Introduction
South Africa’s contemporary art scene is a vibrant reflection of its diverse cultural and social landscape. Black female artists, in particular, have played a critical role in redefining artistic narratives, often addressing issues of identity, gender, social justice and historical memory. The Art Bank of South Africa (ArtbankSA), established in 2017 under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is instrumental in fostering and supporting these artists. Through acquisitions, exhibitions and leasing programs, ArtbankSA ensures that the voices of emerging Black female artists are recognized, preserved and accessible to a broader audience.
This article explores the impact of ArtbankSA on Black female artists in South Africa, highlighting their unique contributions and a broader significance of their work in the contemporary art space.
Historical context: The struggle for recognition
The history of Black female artists in South Africa is deeply tied to the country’s complex socio-political landscape. During the apartheid era, Black artists faced institutional exclusion, limited access to formal education and economic marginalization (Marschall 2001). The artistic sphere was dominated by Eurocentric ideals, with Black artists often relegated to the category of “ethnographic” or “transitional” art, denying them artistic autonomy and critical engagement (Nettleton 1988).
Black women were doubly marginalized, as they experienced both racial and gendered discrimination in the art world (Dallow 2004). Historically, Black female artists worked within community-based and informal networks, passing down artistic traditions through craft, beadwork and textile that were often undervalued in the mainstream art history. These artistic forms were not just aesthetic expressions but also served as tools of cultural resistance, preservation and storytelling.
The post-apartheid era has seen increasing recognition of Black female artists, as cultural institutions seek to correct historical imbalances. The emergence of galleries, museums and programs such as ArtbankSA has provided much-needed institutional support, enabling artists to move beyond invisibility towards greater visibility and agency in the art world. However, while some progress has been made, challenges remain in full integration of Black female artists into the national and global artistic canon. The transition from exclusion to inclusion is slow and requires continuous advocacy, structural reform and financial support to ensure that Black female voices are not only represented but also valued.
Intersectionality in art: Gender, race and identity
Black female artists in South Africa work at the crossroad of multiple identities, using their talent to explore and challenge societal expectations. Intersectionality, a term coined by Crenshaw (1989), highlights how race, gender and socio-economic status combine to shape lived experiences. On the South African art scene, intersectionality is evident in how Black women depict themes of oppression, resilience and cultural heritage in their work.
These female artistic expressions often serve as a mirror to personal and collective struggles, giving voice to feelings that have historically been overlooked. This intersectionality is also reflected in the way their work challenges dominant artistic traditions, blending traditional African elements with modern techniques to create hybrid forms of visual storytelling. The ability to straddle different artistic influences while maintaining a strong personal and political message is what makes Black female artists in South Africa such a vital force in modern art.
Many contemporary Black female artists also engage with feminist and decolonial frameworks, questioning the ways in which historical erasure and Western artistic traditions have shaped the contemporary art realm. This interplay between race, gender and postcolonial critique allows these artists to position their work as both personal expressions and political statements. By reclaiming artistic spaces, they create counter-narratives that challenge historical injustices yet assert the importance of African perspectives on the global art stage (Dallow 2004).
Featured ArtbankSA artists
Kimathi Mafafo: Reclaiming identity through textile and painting
Kimathi Mafafo is a multidisciplinary artist, whose work combines painting, embroidery and textiles to craft intricate visual narratives. Her work reimagines the role of Black women in art, placing them in lush, dreamlike landscapes that exude empowerment and femininity. One of her well-known series, Voiceless VIII, explores the silencing of women in patriarchal societies, still highlighting their resilience and self-liberation. By using embroidery—a historically feminized form of artistic labour (Auslander 2014)—Mafafo employs traditional craft techniques and elevates them to fine art, merging storytelling with materiality.
Mafafo’s work is deeply tied to themes of African womanhood, spirituality and environmental harmony. Her paintings depict women in serene, natural landscapes, often symbolizing renewal and reclamation of self. Her use of bold colour palettes and intricate patterns reflects African textile traditions, reinforcing the idea that traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art can coexist. Through her practice, she brings visibility to the beauty, struggles and triumphs of Black South African women, aligning with ArtbankSA’s mission to promote diverse artistic narratives.
Thandiwe Msebenzi: Photography as an act of defiance
Thandiwe Msebenzi is a fine art photographer; her work is deeply political and explores themes of gender-based violence, cultural memory and identity formation. Her series Asimboni Amakwhwenkweni IV investigates the internalized experiences of Black South African women within traditional and contemporary spaces. Through stark and often intimate compositions, she critiques masculine and feminine binaries, questioning how social norms dictate women’s bodies and behaviours.
Msebenzi’s work is rooted in her autobiographical and collective experiences, allowing her to challenge social perceptions of women’s roles in South Africa. Her photography often incorporates symbolic elements, such as traditional attire juxtaposed with contemporary backdrops, to highlight the tension between heritage and modernity. Her work, now housed in ArtbankSA’s collection, serves as both a visual protest and a means of healing, offering a counter-narrative to the oft-overlooked experiences of Black women in South Africa (Crenn 2016).
Nomusa Musah Mtshali: Performance and photography in the fluidity of identity
Nomusa Musah Mtshali works at the intersection of performance, photography and identity politics. Her series Unondevana 1 interrogates the rigid categorizations of gender, race and sexuality, presenting fluid, expressive images that challenge traditional African gender norms. As a queer Black artist, she uses the body as both subject and medium, exploring how performativity shapes societal understandings of selfhood.
Mtshali’s art is a direct challenge to heteronormative and colonialist representations of African identity, emphasizing the fluidity of personal and cultural identity. Her work is highly performative, often incorporating elements of body painting, costume and movement to engage audiences beyond the static image. By disrupting expectations of what the supposed Black femininity should look like (Dallow 2004), she asserts her presence in the artistic and cultural landscape, ensuring that excluded narratives gain recognition.
Conclusion
Black female artists in South Africa are not just reclaiming space within the contemporary art world — they are actively reshaping narratives of identity, resistance and history. Their work allows them to challenge dominant historical narratives while celebrating their own stories and experiences. Through their innovative artistic practices, they continue to bridge tradition with modernity, ensuring that African perspectives remain central in present-day discussions on art and culture.
ArtbankSA plays an essential role in amplifying and preserving the voices of Black female artists, providing them with financial support, visibility and access to national and international audiences. By actively engaging in the collection, promotion and exhibition of diverse artwork, ArtbankSA is not only fostering an inclusive art ecosystem but also contributing to a broader cultural transformation in South Africa.
As the influence of Black female artists continues to expand, they contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of South African and global contemporary art. Their contributions accentuate the power of art as an essential force for change, healing and self-determination in the ongoing evolution of cultural identity and representation in South Africa.
References
Auslander, L. 2014. Deploying material culture to write the history of gender and sexuality: the example of clothing and textiles. Clio, 40(2), 157-178. https://doi.org/10.4000/cliowgh.716
Crenshaw, K. 1989. Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139-167. https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf/vol1989/iss1/8
Crenn, J. 2016. Who run the world? South African female artists’ relationship to history and normativity. Critique d’art, 47. https://doi.org/10.4000/critiquedart.23201
Dallow, J. 2004. Reclaiming histories: Betye and Alison Saar, feminism, and the representation of black womanhood. Feminist Studies, 30(1), 75-113.
Marschall, S. 2001. Strategies of accommodation: Toward an inclusive canon of South African art. Art Journal, 60(1), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043249.2001.10792050
Nettleton, A. 1988. Myth of the transitional: Black art and White markets in South Africa. South African Journal for Cultural and Art History, 2(4), 301-310. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113053_660
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